Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Rally on Final Day Before Brazil Vote

Brazilian voters face a tight decision on Sunday as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro finished their final campaign stops on Saturday. The run-off election will determine whether the current administration continues or if Brazil shifts further right, a trend visible across the region. Recent data indicates the race is effectively tied, with the outcome potentially hinging on a narrow margin.

Lula, 80, addressed hundreds of supporters at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Standing on a campaign truck, the left-wing leader waved a national flag while wearing a red hat. He contrasted his rival's relationship with US President Donald Trump to his own stance on national identity. "The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag," Lula said. This marks a bid for a fourth, non-consecutive term for the incumbent.

In the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, Flavio Bolsonaro gathered a crowd that included hundreds of motorcyclists wearing yellow national football shirts. The senator, who is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, ran ahead of Lula in the first round with 47 percent of the vote compared to Lula's 45 percent. A CNT/MDA poll released on Saturday placed Bolsonaro at 46.3 percent and Lula at 45 percent. The margin of error is 2.2 percentage points. A week earlier, the same survey showed Bolsonaro leading by 46.8 percent to 45.9 percent.

Ebert Dorigo, a motorcyclist and supporter of Bolsonaro, told the news agency AFP that the Workers' Party had fostered reliance on state assistance. "The values we uphold are nation and family," Dorigo said. He argued that the country needs a change in direction because welfare policies have obscured the role of hard work in achieving progress. Bolsonaro has promised to cut government spending and build hundreds of thousands of new prison cells to tackle crime.

The campaign has featured sharp divisions over economic policy and the country's future. Jair Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after his 2022 defeat. The candidates held a final debate on Friday, adopting a calmer tone than in previous exchanges while still criticizing each other's records. The debate marked the end of public campaigning before the Sunday vote.

Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, described the choice as difficult for undecided voters. "If there were any other candidate, that would be a better option," Viana told AFP. "But we're stuck choosing between the worst, the horrible, and the lesser evil." The final tally will be counted as Brazil moves to determine its next president.